Silesian University in Opava (Chzechia) welcomed a delegation composed of five deans from the Bragança Polytechnic University (Portugal), a valuable partner within the European alliance of universities STARS EU. This official visit was an important opportunity to deepen international cooperation, focused on joint and double degree programs, collaborative research projects, thematic seminars and development of Mixed Intensive Programs (BIP).

The three-day program showcased the diverse academic and innovative capacities of the faculties of the University of Silesia to the delegation composed of Nuno Adriano Baptista Ribeiro (School of Technology and Management), Carlos Teixeira (School of Education), Pedro Bastos (School of Agriculture), Sónia Paula da Silva Nogueira (Faculty of Communication, Public Management and Tourism) and Maria José Alves (School of Hospitality and Welfare).

The visit began in Opava with the welcome to the Portuguese deans by the Vice-Rector, Michaela Weiss, together with other representatives of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and continued with meetings at the institutes of Mathematics and Physics in which researchers Karel Hasík and Zdeněk Stuchlík were present. The programme also included a reception with the Rector of the University of Silesia, Tomáš Gongol, in which both institutions reaffirmed their shared commitment to long-term strategic cooperation.

Subsequently, the delegation visited the Institute of Film, Television and Radio Production, where they were received by the director of the Institute, Monika Horsáková, the vice-dean, Gabriela Rykalová, and Jana Orlová. There they were able to attend an active filming session, explore the mobile streaming unit, a demonstration of the Brainfitness program, and participate in a curated screening at the Unisphere Science Center.

Visit to Karviná

On the second day, the delegation moved to the School of Business Administration (Karviná), where they visited the academic facilities of the faculty, led by Daniel Stavárek and the vice-deans Tomáš Pražák, Martin Klepek and Dalibor Šimek. The tour also included the UniLab innovation center and the Business Gate, which connects academic work with business practice.

During the last day, the Dean of the Faculty of Public Policy of Opava, Marta Kolaříková, the Vice-Dean Kateřina Janků, Markéta Skalná, and the coordinators of Erasmus+, Jana Bortlíková, and Jana Srovnalová, toured with the guests the state-of-the-art educational and simulation spaces, such as the dental hygiene laboratory, the obstetric simulation rooms,  the Snoezelen multisensory room, as well as the interview simulation room for training in social sciences and criminology.

During their three-day visit, the delegation was received and assisted by Petra Daníšková, Petra Skoumalová and the project communicator, Barbora Hamplová, who agreed on the importance of these actions, as a reinforcement of the strong academic ties between the University of Silesia in Opava and the Polytechnic University of Bragança, both members of STARS EU,  alliance that promotes innovation, cooperation and excellence in higher education across Europe.